Steering wheel and method for turning on preset function in vehicle by using steering wheel

Abstract

A steering wheel, including a cover, a safety airbag, and a frame, the safety airbag being accommodated in a space defined by the cover and the frame and being fixedly mounted on the frame, and the cover being connected to the frame in a suspended manner. The cover is a unitary structure, and is divided into a first functional region, a second functional region, and a third functional region. Surfaces of the first functional region and the third functional region are both provided with a touch film. At least three non-collinear force sensors are further provided in the space. Some of the force sensors are arranged to be opposite the first functional region, and the rest are arranged to be opposite the third functional region. A controller is further included. Also provided is a method for enabling a preset function in a vehicle by using a steering wheel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering wheel, comprising a cover and a safety airbag, the safety airbag being accommodated in a space defined at least in part by the cover,
 wherein, the cover is a unitary structure, and is divided into a first functional region, a second functional region, and a third functional region, the second functional region being opposite the safety airbag, and surfaces of the first functional region and the third functional region being both provided with a touch film,   at least three non-collinear force sensors being further provided in the space, wherein some of the force sensors are arranged to be opposite the first functional region, and the rest of the force sensors are arranged to be opposite the third functional region, and   the steering wheel configured to acquire a first parameter signal by means of the touch films, acquiring a force signal by means of the force sensors, and controlling the enabling of a corresponding function in the first functional region, the second functional region, and the third functional region, wherein the corresponding function in the first and third functional regions are controlled on the basis of the first parameter signal and on the basis of a force application position and the magnitude of an applied force acquired according to the force signal, and wherein the second functional region is configured to be a horn region for enabling a horn function,   wherein the steering wheel further comprises a first support and a second support, the cover being connected to the first support and the second support in a suspended manner, and the first support and the second support being respectively opposite the first functional region and the third functional region, and each having a force sensor mounted thereon,   wherein a bottom surface of a housing of the safety airbag is provided with a frame member, tabs being provided at edges of the frame member, and the tabs contacting a bottom surface of the cover to provide a pre-pressure for causing the cover to bulge outwards, and   wherein the second functional region is provided between the first functional region and the third functional region, the cover comprising an intermediate side wall located in an intermediate position thereof, the intermediate side wall being provided with first window portions into which first hook-shaped portions of the housing are inserted, and an edge of each first window portion being covered with a first elastic member so that the first elastic member is located between the first hook-shaped portion and the first window portion.   
     
     
         2 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first functional region and the third functional region are configured to be switch regions having electronic switches. 
     
     
         3 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first support and the second support comprises an upper support and a lower support, and the cover comprises edge side walls located on two sides of the intermediate side wall and respectively spaced apart from the intermediate side wall, the edge side walls each being provided with second window portions into which second hook-shaped portions of the upper support are inserted and third window portions into which third hook-shaped portions of the lower support are inserted, an edge of each second window portion being covered with a second elastic member so that the second elastic member is located between the second hook-shaped portion and the second window portion, and an edge of each third window portion being covered with a third elastic member so that the third elastic member is located between the third hook-shaped portion and the third window portion. 
     
     
         4 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is further provided with, at the first functional region and the second functional region, an acoustic feedback module and/or a vibration feedback module when a corresponding function is enabled. 
     
     
         5 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first functional region, the second functional region, and the third functional region of the cover define a strip region connected to a steering wheel rim of the steering wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame member is provided on the bottom surface of the housing of the safety airbag in an over-molded manner. 
     
     
         7 . A method for enabling a preset function in a vehicle by using the steering wheel according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein, the method comprises the following steps:   when a triggering condition is satisfied, measuring a first parameter by means of the touch films, measuring a force signal by means of the force sensors, and acquiring a force application position and the magnitude of an applied force on the basis of the force signal;   in the case that the measured first parameter is not less than a first touch threshold,
 when the magnitude of the applied force is greater than a first force threshold, enabling a function corresponding to the force application position; 
   and in the case that the measured first parameter is less than the first touch threshold,
 when the magnitude of the applied force is greater than a third force threshold and the force application position is in the third functional region, enabling a function corresponding to the third functional region. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 in the case that the measured first parameter is not less than the first touch threshold,   when the magnitude of the applied force is greater than the first force threshold, the function corresponding to the force application position is enabled, and acoustic feedback and/or vibration feedback is simultaneously provided.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein
 in the case that the measured first parameter is not less than the first touch threshold,   when the magnitude of the applied force is greater than the first force threshold, the function corresponding to the force application position is enabled, and acoustic feedback and/or vibration feedback is simultaneously provided; and then,   in the case that the first parameter measured by means of the touch films is less than a second touch threshold,   when the magnitude of the applied force is less than a second force threshold, acoustic feedback and/or vibration feedback is provided,   wherein the first touch threshold is greater than the second touch threshold, and the first force threshold is greater than the second force threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first parameter comprises one or a plurality among an application time, an application area, an application path, and the number of applications. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the triggering condition comprises that an initialization step has been completed.